“Panama Papers” journalist killed by car bomb

“Panama Papers” journalist killed by car bomb

Maltese investigative journalist and anti-corruption activist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb near her home in Mosta on Monday evening.

She was reportedly leaving her home when the blast occurred, sending the vehicle wreckage airborne and into an adjacent field.

Ms Caruana Galizia was responsible for uncovering links between Malta and the “Panama Papers” scandal last year, in which scores of politicians — including heads of states — were found to be amassing fortunes in offshore tax havens.

Currently, no individuals or organisations have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ms Caruana Galizia’s blog often drew more readers than the combined circulation of Malta’s newspapers. Recently, she linked the country’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and two of his aides with companies implicated in the selling of Maltese passports.

When announcing the death of the journalist, Mr Muscat said, “I condemn without reservations this barbaric attack on a person and on the freedom of expression in our country.

“Everyone knows Ms Caruana Galizia was a harsh critic of mine both politically and personally, as she was for others too.”

He emphasised that there is “no justification in any way, for such action.”

Mr Muscat also said he has asked the United States to assist in the investigation.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca urged people to remain calm and not to jump to conclusions. “In these moments, when the country is shocked by such a vicious attack, I call on everyone to measure their words, to not pass judgment and to show solidarity,” she said.